Mechanical body manipulating reclinable chair



23, 1954 v. H. HERRMEYER ,017

MECHANICAL BODY MANIPULATING RECLINABLE CHAIR Filed Dec. 29, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l 7 N 1954 v. H. HERRMEYER MECHANICAL BODY MANIPULATING RECLINABLE CHAIR 29, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

M U W W w F w E e a m 3 r Mei! I {019% Nov. 23, 1954 V. H- HERRMEYER 2,695,017 MECHANICAL BODY MANIPULATING RECLINABLE CHAIR Filed Dad. 29, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Moms g5 tain correcting manipulations for United States Patent Ofifice 2,695,0l7 Patented Nov. 23, 1954 MECHANICAL BODY MANIPULATING RECLINABLE CHAIR Vernon H. Herrmeyer, Waterloo, Iowa Application December 29, 1951, Serial No. 264,064 6 Claims. (Cl. 128-71) My invention relates to the art of body manipulation by mechanical means.

More particularly my invention embodies the use of a combination chair and treatment table that provides cera persons back and lumbar regions.

It is the general aim of my invention to provide a reclinable chair that has a plurality of adjustable means for arranging the seat and back portion to conform to the curvature of the body of a person reclining therein and which chair is mechanically movable to provide certain pulling and stretching manipulations on the persons body.

A further object of this invention is to provide a chair of the above class wherein the back rest portion is independently movable and under spring tension to constantly exert a pulling or stretching of the persons back in a direction away from the lumbar region.

Still another object of my invention is to provide in this chair a slow mechanical movement thereof in one direction when the person is reclined therein and a more or less sudden reversal of the chair movement terminating in a sudden stop to create an impact inertia whereby the independently movable back rest portion referred to above exerts a pulling or stretching action in the same direction as the chair was moving just prior to its sudden stop.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a chair having the characteristics above noted whereby because of its structure in chair form, makes it possible for a person to be initially normally seated therein and thus eliminates the need for lifting a person onto or off of a table before and after treatment.

Other objects of this invention are to provide a reclinable chair as above described that is refined in appearance, easy to use and durable in construction.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my invention showing it in reclined position,

Fig. 2 is a top view of the device in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of this chair taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an elevational front view of this device in a reclined position,

Fig. 5 is an end elevational tion of this chair 55 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the back rest portion of this chair in reclined position taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of this chair in upright position, and

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of this device taken from the line 88 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings a horizontal base or supporting frame member is formed from the spaced apart sides 10 secured at the front by the transverse brace 11 and boxed in on the rear end and upper rear top portion as at 12. A shelf 13 extending between the sides 10 near the rear thereof not only serves as additional bracing for the sides 10 but also supports an electric motor 14 which will be later referred to. Preferably each end of each view of the back rest porin reclined position taken from the line the bottom thereof with side 10 has an integral leg portion 15 that will rest on a supporting surface or floor 16 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. At oppositely disposed points on each end portion of the top of the base 10 I provide the upwardly extending wheels or rollers 18, with the rollers each on brackets 19 suitably afi'ixed to each of the sides 10 (Fig. 3). A pair of like spaced apart side members 20 each have the oppositely disposed and upwardly extending ear portions 22 and these sides are secured together intermediate their ends by the transverse vertical plate 24 that has a cut away or notch 26 at each lower bottom corner, and across the back end and top back portion is boxed in as as 27. A support plate 28 extends between the side members 20 at the top edge about midway between its ends and engages the top edge of the plate 24 as shown in Fig. 3. Each side 20 is provided on its inner side near an inwardly extending longitudinal track or runner 29 that is preferably made from angle iron, and it will be observed that each track extends through one of the notches 26 in the plate 24. Thus, constructed, the sides 20 are arranged on the base 10 so that the runners 29 will be supported by and movable in two directions over the wheels 18, and thus in effect the sides 20 and ears 22 constitute a movable cradle or trunnion-like support for the chair to be later described. To prevent the displacement of the runners 29 from the wheels 18 when this device is moved or in use, I place a hook member 30 on the inside of each side 20 so that the respective hook end portions 32 extend across and are spaced slightly above the runners 29 as shown in Fig. 4. This will not interfere with the longitudinal movement of the runners but will serve as a stop means to limit the upward or sideward movement thereof so they cannot accidentally leave their operating position.

A chair shown generally at 34 in Fig. 7 is arranged within the cradle above described and pivotable therein so that it can be either in an upright or reclined position. More specifically, this chair has a frame consisting of a seat 36 that is boxed in on each side by side panels 38 that have an upwardly extending reduced rear portion which provide the frame sides 40 for the chair back as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. The frame side 40 are boxed in on the ends as at 42 and 44 and across the front as at 46 which serves as the upper frame back for my chair. The panels 38 are braced at the bottom front portion by the transverse member 48 (Fig. 4). It will be observed that the seat 36 extends downwardly and forwardly when in upright position and forwardly and upwardly when in reclined position, the latter being illustrated in Fig. 3. It is pointed out (Fig. 7) that the side panels 38 have a forward edge curved to conform generally to the arm rest portion of an ordinary chair. A back member 50 extends between the panels 38 and is spaced inwardly from the back edges thereof so as to be in the same plane as the member 46 on the frame sides 40 (Fig. 3). A channel shaped brace 51 is arranged between the panels 38 so that the one end thereof can'engage the plate 28 and the other end engages and forms a slight extension of the upper end of the back 50. A similar channel brace 52 in inverse position to brace 51 is arranged between the lower ends of the frame sides 40 and adjacent the end 44 so that one end thereof can engage the plate 28 and the other end engages and forms a slight extension on the lower end of the back member 46. Thus arranged the braces 51 will be in spaced relationship to form an open channel between the upper and lower sections of the back of my chair as shown in Fig. 3. To the underside of the seat 36 and extending from front to rear there is secured a pair of spaced apart tracks 53 on which is mounted a slidable frame 54 that has its forward end portion 56 bent downwardly to carry a leg rest 58. A notched or toothed bar 60 is arranged on the underside of the seat 36 between the tracks 53 and a rotatable pawl 62 is mounted on a bar 64 extending between the tracks 52 so that when the seat 36 is reclined and the frame 54 is extended outwardly therefrom, the pawl can be engaged in one of the notches of the bar 60 to hold theleg rest in its extended position as shown in Fig. 3. Resilient cushions 66 and 68 respectively are secured to the seat 36 and leg rest 58. i

A relatively narrow rectangular cushion 7 0 arranged on back member to form a rest means at the rear of.and..

extending upwardly from the seat cushion 66 (Fig. 3). Above and closely adjacent the cushion 70 is a second relatively small cushion 74 which is arranged on .a suitable base' 76 and pivotally secured at its bottom edge tothe upper portion of the back 50 so that it can move outwardly from the top along its length from the back 50. The center upper portion of the cushion 74 isextended into a modified inverted V shape as at.78 (Fig. 2). A shaft is rotatably arranged between the panels 38 across the channel51 extension portion to back 50 and under. the cushion 74. One end of this shaft extends through one of the panels 38 (Fig. l) and is bent to form a handle 82. Positioned on the shaft so as to engage the underside of the V portion 78 of the cushion 74 isthe cam 84 whereby rotation of the shaft 80 and cam 84 will elevate the V end of the cushion 74 as illustrated in Fig. 3. On the shaft handle 82 is a ratchet wheel 86 engageable by the pawl 88- on the-panel 38 so that the tilt of the cushion 74 can be maintained at different elevations. This provides a means to afford a firm support for the small of the back of a person 9i) using this chair as will be later described in detail.

Extending transversely of the panels. 38 through the open channel between the braces 51 and 52 is a rotatable threaded shaft 92 that projects outwardly from each panel 38 and hasthe respective crank handles 94 on each end. A pair of elongated angle iron support members 96 each have a block member 97 secured within its two sides at one end. Each block has a threaded bore sothat they can be threaded respectively onto opposite ends of the shaft 92 whereby each support extends. perpendicularly. there from so that when the chair is in upright position they Will extend fromthis chair in a manner similar to chair arms as shown in Fig. 7. The threads on opposite end portions of the shaft 92 are reverse to each other so that selective rotation of either handle 94 will move thesupports 96 toward or away from each other. To .maintain the supports 96 in their perpendicular position relative to the shaft 92 a projection 98 from the block 97- (Fig. 3) moves in a groove in brace 51 and a projecting member 100.'on themember 92 moves in a groove in channel brace 52. This is shown in Fig. 3 for one ofthe supports 96 and theother isbraced in the same. way. An elongated cushioned member 106 is mounted withineach angle iron support 96. For this purpose one or :more bolt shanks secured to-the member 106 extends through a slot 108 in the member 96 and is secured therein by a.

his thus possible to. adjust the cushion wing nut 110. 106 longitudinally within the support 96. Each cushion 106 is curved as shown in Fig. 8 to conform to the. curvature of the hip area of the person being treated.

Above the supports 96 is anindependentlymovable cushioned back rest which I will. now describe. Onthe upper end of the frame back 46 and substantially midway between its side'ends is an upwardly extending wheel or roller 1.12 (Figs. 3 and '7). A like wheel 114 ismounted at the. bottom. of the back 46 on the brace 52 extension thereto and in the same vertical plane as the wheel 112. Also extending upwardly from the back 46 are two apertured bearingmembers 116 in spaced relationship and in alignment withthe wheels 112 and 114. A cushioned back rest 118 arranged on a base 120 has two channel shaped brackets 122 secured to the underside of the base 120 so that the respective ends forming the channel shape extend outwardly therefrom. Each brace has. a rod member 124. extending between itsfree ends which is slidably and-rotatably arranged-in one of the bearing members 116. Thus arranged, the back rest cushion 118 has a limited movement toward and away from the cushion 74 corresponding to the length of the rods 124 and in this movement the base 120 will rest on and move overv the wheels 112 and 114. It will also be observed thattheback rest cushion 118 can be tilted laterally (Fig. 6) to. either side by reason of the rods 124 in the bearing members 116. A spring member 126 extends from the base120 to the member 46 so as to normally yieldingly urge the back rest cushion 118 away from the cushion 74 (Fig. 7). The chair thus described is pivotally secured within the cradle by means of the pins 127 arranged. in the cradle ears 22.

A pulley wheel 128 rotatably mounted on a shaft 130 extending between the sides 10 forwardly of the shelf 13 is connected to the motor 14 by the belt 132 and an arcuate trip arm 134 is also mounted on the shaft 130 androtatable.withihepulley. wheel.128.(Fig.. 3 A- suitable gear box 136 (Fig. 4) is associated with the motor 14 so that a relative slow rotation of the pulley wheel 130 can be obtained. Secured to and depending from the plate 24 is an arcuate bar 138 that terminates adjacent the pulley wheel 130 and in the path of the trip arm 134 and it will be observed that the curve of the arm 134 and bar 138 are oppositely arranged so that there respec tive convex edges engage each other.

A tie rod 140 (Fig. 4) extends between the forward portion .of the sides. 20 not only as a brace but also to support a rod 142 that extends transversely therethrough and issecured to a spring 144 which extends tov the shelf 13. The rod 142 is threaded to receive a handle 146 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 so that selective rotation of the handle 146 will increase or decrease tension on the spring 144 by moving the rod 142 longitudinally with respect to saidcradle.

A spring and moveable rod constitute a meansfor storing variable amounts of energy when the cradle is moved so as to stretch the spring.

The rearward movement of the cradle assembly. on the wheels 18 is limited by the transverse angle. iron stop bar. member 148 arranged between the sides. 10 (Fig. 3) and a resilient buffer 150 of rubber or the. like issecured to the forward side of the member 148.

Thus constructed and arranged .this device. will operate in the following manner. Fig. 7 shows thischairin upright position ready toreceive a personfor treatment. The chair is initiallyoccupiedthe same as. any chair and thus for a person who may bein pain he need not be lifted or manhandled asit is only necessary for him to sit down in the usual manner. Thus it is not required by this device for attendants to help or bodily lift a patient onto a table. With the person in thechair it is easily manually tilted or reclined as shown inFig. 3. The leg rest-68 can then be extended to accommodate the particular individual. by supporting his legs. from the ankle to a point just under his knees in a manner calculated to provide comfort and relaxation- The cushion 74 is then tilted as described to providea support for the small of -the back and the cushioned members 106'can be adjusted to engage the'hips on each side to prevent any rolling. Once the person is in reclining. position his back is lifted sufficiently to permit the back cushion llflto be moved to its forward position relative to. the. position shown in Fig. 3 and when his back is again returned to the cushion 118, the spring 144 tends to urge this. back cushion rearwardly so that a pulling or stretching action is effectedon the. persons back andparticularly at the small of the back.

The mechanical manipulation afforded by this device is accomplished as follows. Operation of. the. motor 14 will slowly rotate the trip arm 134 in a counterclockwise direction. As this occurs, the arm 134 slidably-engages the bar 138 and moves it forward. Thebar. 138 being secured to the plate 24 causes the entire, structure above the base 10 to move with thebar. 138.. Specifically, the runners 29 move on the wheels.18 and the chair being connected to the. cradle by the.pins.127. obviously moves also. This movement expandsthe spring 144 that normally tends to hold thecradle inits rearward position. The trip arm 134 will ultimately. rotate out of contact with the bar 138 and as this occurs the tension ofspring 144 will abruptly reverse the .direction of travel of the cradle until it comes to a sudden stop against the buffer 150. This suddenv stop creates what I have called an impact inertia since after the cradle hasceased moving rearwardly, the back cushion 118, being independently movable,.will have a tendency to continue the rearward movement within the limitations of the brackets.122 and thus provides a pronounced pulling or stretching action. This. action is repeated at regular. intervals as: long as the trip arm is rotating.

This chair has been designed to support a person in as comfortable a position as possible so he can recline in a perfectly relaxed position that is important when manipulating the body as here described.' It is obvious that a fiat table support does not support the small of the back so a person can relax to the degree possible with my device. Being so relaxed the. stretching and pulling action coming after the suddenstop described can do the most good.

Some changes may be made in .the construction and arrangement of my mechanical body manipulating reclinable chair without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a mechanical body manipulating reclinable chair, a base, wheels secured to said base, a cradle resting on said wheels, a stop means secured to said base, a member rigidly secured to said cradle and engaging the stop on said base in one direction of movement of said cradle on said base, a rod moveably secured to said cradle, means secured to said cradle for relatively and variably limiting the movement of said rod in at least one direction, a spring having one of its ends secured to said base and the other of its ends secured to said rod, a motor secured to said base, a trip arm eccentrically and rotatably secured to said base and rotated by said motor, a bar secured to said cradle and extending into the path of said trip arm, and a means secured to said cradle for supporting an entire person and immobilizing a portion of a person at least relative to the longitudinal axis of said supporting means.

2. In a mechanical body manipulating reclinable chair, a base, wheels secured to said base, a cradle resting on said wheels, a stop means secured to said base, a member rigidly secured to said cradle and engaging the stop on said base in one direction of movement of said cradle on said base, a rod moveably secured to said cradle, means secured to said cradle for relatively and variably limiting the movement of said rod in at least one direction, a spring having one of its ends secured to said base and the other of its ends secured to said rod, a motor secured to said base, a trip arm eccentrically and rotatably secured to said base and rotated by said motor, a bar secured to said cradle and extending into the path of said trip arm, a pair of panels secured to said cradle and to each other, rollers secured to said panels, apertured bearing members secured to said panels in longitudinally spaced relationship, a back rest member resting on said rollers, elongated members secured by their ends to said back rest and extending through said apertured bearing members; said elongated members extending longitudinally of said back rest; said rollers rotating about axes that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said back rest, and a spring secured to said back rest by one end and said panels by its other end and yieldingly urging said back rest in the same direction relative to said panels as said spring secured between said base and said cradle urges said cradle on said base.

3. The mechanical body manipulating reclinable chair of claim 2 further characterized by said rollers and said apertured bearing members being aligned and all substantially arranged along the lateral center of the space defined by said pair of panels.

4. The mechanical body manipulating reclinable chair of claim 3 further characterized by having a cushion hingedly secured at one edge to said panels, and a cam rotatably secured to said panels and extending under the edge of said cushion most remote from its hinged connection to said panels.

5. The mechanical body manipulating reclinable chair of claim 2 further characterized by having said body immobilizing means comprised in part of a cushion hingedly secured at one edge to said panels, and a cam rotatably secured to said panels and extending under the edge of said cushion most remote from its hinged connection to said panels.

6. In a mechanical body manipulating reclinable chair of the type in which a base moveably supports the body supporting portion which is slowly moved footwise, halted, rapidly moved headwise and suddenly halted while the legs and hips of a person riding thereon are held securely; whereby a spine elongating shock is applied to a human body supported on said table and characterized by said body supporting portion having a back rest forming a portion of it; said back rest being independently moveable within limits and having the following construction, rollers rotatably secured to said body supporting portion, apertured bearing members secured to said body supporting portion, a back rest resting on said rollers, elongated members extending through said apertured bearing members and having their ends secured to said back rest, and a spring secured to said back rest and to said body supporting portion; said spring yieldingly urging said back rest in the direction in which said body supporting portion is moved rapidly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,243,013 Morey et a1 May 20, 1941 2,427,053 Hampton Sept. 9, 1947 2,472,675 Mueller June 7, 1949 2,565,019 Buchanan Aug. 21, 1951 

